Thursday, January 31, 2013

New Sewing Projects : :

I'm definitely enjoying the one night a week I'm allowing myself to indulge in a new sewing project. I have so many orders and unfinished wips right now, the most I have ever had for sure, so I'm sticking to a schedule and list for the most part. Permitting myself just one night a week for something new, for now, until I'm all caught up. If that ever happens!!

Last week was a Glimma quilt! This time, I finally gave into my craving to make something with just solids! Enter -- Buffalo Check!

Buffalo Check Patchwork -- I love you!!

A simple idea, I know! Beginning with lots of 3.5" square cuts of Pure Element solids in White Linen, Sandstone, and Moonstone.

Pure Element Squares

A little late-night chain piecing on my Janome!

Late Night Chain Piecing

And, I am loving the result of this simple patchwork!

Buffalo Check Quilt Block

Seeing it all come together was really fun! I would love to make another quilt in this Buffalo Check plaid pattern, maybe in another color scheme, since this is going to be a Man-pillow Birthday gift! I could also, very easily, type up a tutorial for this pillow project if anyone is interested? Just let me know!

Coming Together

Yesterday, one of my girlfriends came over with her sewing machine and we made pillowcases with a favorite Indie print, Dynasty in Saffron, and a little Pure Element in Moonstone again. Yellow & Grey is always such a great combo!

Indie & Pure for pillowcase making

We laughed so hard when I unfolded my stash of this print! I have A LOT!!!

Indie Love!!

For the pillowcases, we used this wonderful tutorial from FITF. The addition of that little strip of trim and the french seams are so smart! I first used it back in December for a pillowcase drive and for holiday gift giving, which was so enjoyable I declared to never purchase another pillowcase ever again!

Pretty Trim Detail

The end result of our first, little sewing session was two new, beautiful pillowcases -- made in less than two hours, with lots of coffee, and chatting about starting a sewing club!

Indie Pillowcases

Thanks for all your help and suggestions on your own experiences with sewing groups! Something fun, laid back, and easy is exactly what I hope it will be!

Today, I have three Fox Pillows to finish and a giveaway with the Fat Quarter Shop in the works for tomorrow! Be sure to stop back!!  , Maureen

48 comments:

  1. Yay for a new project! It's looking great so far. Just FYI, the link to the FITF pillowcase tute goes to the Indie swatch page. :)

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  2. Love the fabrics on the pillowcases and the buffalo check is awesome. Sometimes it's nice to take a break from production sewing and just have fun!
    xoxo,
    Amy

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  3. I need to make pillow cases for the bed in our spare room so this has inspired me but I need to decide what fabric to use!

    Any recommendations for a blue fabric?

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    1. Hi Kelli! You're a no-reply commenter, so I'm responding here. :)

      What shade of blue? And, are you looking for a solid, floral, or more of a geometric, simple, or basic print?

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  4. I had such a wonderful time! I can't wait until next week. :)

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  5. that is a great looking pillowcase! love the color combo - you sure do have a lot of that print :)

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  6. I made pillowcases for gifts last year and was surprised how quickly they went together. Your new blk with the solids is really nice and looks easy to make. I'll be watching for the tutorial. :)

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  7. I need to make some more pillowcases. I think this will be a great project for 'me'. I love the dark grey and saffron print, gorgeous!!!

    Fawn

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  8. I really like the Buffalo check. Didn't think I'd like so much brown and cream colors but it looks wonderful all done up!
    Love the pillow cases too ~ keep meaning to make some but haven't got to them yet.

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  9. Love your new quilt! It will be beautiful and much loved. Also, I just love the idea of your new sewing club. That is so cool!

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  10. Your Fox Pillows make me happy just looking at them.

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  11. I love the Indie fabric. I went to their site from your link and I just love the prints. I'm going to have to find me some. I tried to make a pillow case last week with a zipper. It looked relatively simple in my books. But turned out to be harder than it looked. I had a long rectangle of very colorful fleece. I sewed up the sides, and one end was a fold. Then I figured I'd just sew in the zipper. Well, the directions in the books were for flat pieces of fabric with a zipper in the middle. My fabric was not in that configuration, even before I sewed up the sides. So I ended up having to sew in the zipper by hand. It took relatively forever and the ends were tricky and cumbersome to sew. But I got it done and I'm happy. The pillow case is a little too big for the pillow, but not too bad. I didn't know how much bigger to make it, so I just eyeballed it. Guess my eyes were too big. Ha. If I keep watching you I'm sure I'll do better next time.

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    1. Aw, thanks!! My first zipper experience was a complete disaster, if that brings you any comfort!! LOL I avoid them to be honest. :)

      I did buy much of my Indie from The Intrepid Thread here -- http://www.intrepidthread.com/shop/Fabrics-by-Collection/Indie-by-Pat-Bravo-.htm Maybe some of what she has left, is what you are looking for?

      :) Maureen

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  12. Love the grey and yellow pillow cases. I am trying to finish some of my WIPS and then I have the fabric to make a grey, yellow and white baby quilt. It's my incentive to get a few things done!

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  13. LOVE, LOVE the buffalo check! The pillow cases are really nice too! Thanks for sharing all your AMAZING work! You are very talented!!

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  14. I LOVE that Buffalo Check design!! Def the beginnings of a very cool and manly pillow! =D How big will it be? It looks like it's gonna to be HUGE!

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  15. So glad you found a use for your Yellow Indie print, yellow and grey really do look great together.

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  16. I love the LOOOONG fabric! I've been on a pillowcase kick lately. And I really adore the simplicity of the buffalo check pattern. Got more to make. The solids are yummy for neutrals. Proof positive that neutrals aren't boring.

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  17. I really like the Buffalo Check design and the pillow cases are so cute. I'd love to have a sewing buddy come and visit me, but I live in the middle of nowhere. Of course, when I come to take a nap on the sofa in your sewing room, you could have your sewing buddy come for some fun after naptime, lol.

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  18. Love the pillowcases. I can see why you have so much of that fabric.

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  20. Absolutely love the buffalo check man-pillow to-be! Pretty pillowcases... and you're right- yellow and grey are always a good combo.

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  21. Love the plaid, and love the pillowcases! I think your "one free night a week" idea is well-deserved!

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  22. Great minds must think alike - I started a check quilt in almost exactly the same colours back in October: http://thewindyside.blogspot.co.nz/2012/10/wip-wednesday_24.html Your version looks great.

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  23. It's gorgeous! Crafty Blossom did a similar baby quilt (http://craftyblossom.blogspot.com/2012/09/gingham-patchwork-quilt.html) - I love the style!

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  25. That really is a lo of fabric, lol! Good for you for taking a night to sew what you want and have fun with a friend. The pillowcases are very pretty!

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  26. Sometimes the simplest projects are so refreshing. Love your Man-pillow. I often struggle with trying to make something "manly" for my husband. The colors of those solids are perfect!

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  27. I happen to love 2 or 3 color quilts - especially in a simple patchwork. My first quilt (2 years ago) was a baby quilt in 2 colors with 4" squares.

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  28. I love the saffron and dark grey together...beautiful!

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  29. Hi Maureen.. I am a follower and love your inspiration in all you do. I was wondering if I could pick your talented brain.. I want to make a quilt for a teen with the zebra print and medium pink and white and black as needed. With the long stipes in the zebra pattern, I am thinking it would not be good with smaller squares like HST. But I want to do more than just a strippy kind of quilt or just squares sewn together. Do you have any suggestions on how to use this kind of zebra/stripe fabric? I am thinking Northern star, but still not sure that stripe would look right. Thanks for any suggestions!

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  30. Love the buffalo plaid -- and yes, please to the tutorial! I have 6 grandsons, so I'm always on the lookout for "guy quilts."

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  31. Love the buffalo plaid and yes, yes, yes to the tutorial. I love anything buffalo plaid!

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  32. Beautiful work as usual, Maureen!

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  33. ha! That stash of the saffron fabric made me picture you & your whole family, all wearing clothes made of that fabric, sitting on a couch upholstered in it, with perhaps a few saffron throw pillows for good measure. =)

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  34. I love the pillow cases! (and am honestly waiting for a reason to make a few as gifts...)
    And, LOVE the fact that you have that much of your favorite print stashed. That's adorable :)

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  35. Oh that buffalo plaid is great! Seems like a perfect lap quilt design to me.

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  39. Those neutral solids are going to be gorgeous!

    That's a LOT of fabric for that one print. Question, because I had to deal with this a while ago: How do you get long pieces (more than a couple of yards) straightened, grain-wise, for cutting? For a yard or two, I always put selvedges together, hold them up and slide them until the fold is flat and straight at the bottom but for long cuts, I've been using prayer and finger crossing….

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  40. Hi Would love a tutorial on the solid fabric man pillow.

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  41. You did have a lot of that fabric! Congrats on sewing the 2 new cases. They are classic looking in their freshness. Your buffalo print and fabbies look great tooo, I'll be back. Jane

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  42. goodness you are right! that is A LOT of that fabric! i would have laughed and laughed also! ;) xoxo loving that buffalo check! i think it would be beautiful in pink.

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